In this Thanksgiving special of Home in Progress, host Dan Hansen digs into the surprising history of the American dining room and reveals the real science behind what makes a space feel warm, welcoming, and deeply “cozy.” Sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, this episode blends design history, environmental psychology, and practical home advice to help you create holiday spaces people love to linger in.

Dan breaks down the elements that truly shape coziness—refuge and prospect, ceiling height, layered lighting, meaningful textures, scent, and even the subtle role of background sound. He also uncovers the unexpected origins of our “traditional” Thanksgiving color palette, showing how 1960s–70s appliance colors quietly shaped our modern holiday aesthetic.

Packed with actionable tips and fascinating insights, this episode is your guide to making any room feel comfortable, inviting, and human-centered for the holidays.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Holiday greetings & introduction

01:29 – What to expect in this special episode

01:40 – The psychology of cozy: how humans experience comfort

02:49 – The rise, fall, and reinvention of the formal dining room

11:44 – Why our Thanksgiving colors come from mid-century appliances

18:36 – The foundations of cozy spaces

23:46 – How coziness works in real homes

24:57 – Creating intimate zones in open-concept layouts

25:56 – How ceiling height shapes emotional comfort

28:18 – Layered lighting: the real secret to coziness

30:33 – Texture: the “silent” coziness booster

32:37 – Scent: the fastest way to create emotional warmth

35:34 – Designing for people—not Pinterest

39:27 – The surprising impact of sound on mood

45:27 – Practical steps for making your home cozier today